Tape applicator with cutter snap release



Nov. 1, 1955 c. w. voe'r 2,722,330

TAPE APPLICATOR WITH CUTTER SNAP RELEASE Filed May 6,. 1953 /N VE N TOR 6'4 flRENCE W K9 7" ATTORNE 6'.

United States Patent Ofii ce TAPE APPLICATOR WITH CUTTER SNAP RELEASE Clarence W. Vogt, Norwalk, Conn. Application May 6, 1953, Serial No. 353,339 11 Claims. (Cl. 216-21) This invention relates to devices for dispensing and applying adhesive tapes and embodies, more specifically, an improved apparatus by means of which the tape may be severed effectively at such locations as may be desired after portions of the tape have been applied to desired surfaces.

More particularly, the invention relates to tape applying mechanisms wherein means is provided not only to facilitate the effective application of tape to a desired surface, but also to cut the tape in order that the material applied to the desired surface may be severed from the material remaining on the roll carried by the tape applying mechanism.

In accordance with the above, an object of this invention is to provide, in combination with means for applying tape from a roll to a desired surface, means to facilitate cutting of the tape at any desired location.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide cutting means which accomplishes the desired cutting operation without marring or scufling the surface upon which the tape has been applied.

In order to accomplish the above and other objects, this invention is embodied in a device having a pressure tongue by means of which adhesive tape may be applied under pressure to a desired surface and wherein the tongue is provided with a cutting edge and control mechanism therefor so that actuation of the cutting edge may be restrained until the device has been moved to such position that the cutting edge is prevented from coming in contact with the surface upon which the tape has been applied.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section taken in a plane intermediate the sides of the device and showing the position of the parts thereof when the device is in a position of repose;

Figure 2 is a partial view similar to Figure 1, showing the position of the device as it is applying tape to a desired surface;

Figure 3 is a partial view similar to Figure 1, showing the position of the device as it is severing the applied tape from the tape material remaining on the roll;

Figure 4 is a partial view in section, taken on line 44 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view illustrating the mechanism for controlling the cutting operation; I

Figure 5 is a detail view in section showing a portion of one of the side walls of the device;

Figure 6 is a detail view in side elevation showing the pressure tongue and tape cutting mechanism of the present invention; and

Figure 7 is a partial plan view showing a plurality of pressure tongues during the course of one method of manufacturing thereof.

Referring to the above drawings, a tape applying device is illustrated at 10 as being formed with side walls 11 having rear tape roll positioning lugs 12 and 13 which serve to locate the tape roll properly within the holder and with a forward bridge member 14. At the outer end of the bridge member 14, there is provided a reversely extending trigger plate 15 preferably formed out of the material of the bridge member and adapted to release the pressure tongue in a manner presently to be described.

A roll of tape material is shown at 16, the end 17 thereof being shown as stripped from the roll and drawn over a turning bar 18 which is illustrated as being formed on the inner end of a pressure tongue 19 and, if desired,

formed in a separate operation from the side walls 11.-

To facilitate the assembly of the elements, the ends of the bar 18 are formed with projections 20 which are received within mating recesses 21 formed within bosses 22 that are formed out of the material of the side plates 11. When the pressure tongue is assembled, it lies inside and above (as viewed in Figures 1, 2, and 3) snubbing ears 23 that are formed on the lower portions of the side plates 11. An angular snubber portion 24 is formed in the material of the tongue 19 and, outwardly of the snubber 24, the tongue is provided with a pressure member 25 over which the tape slides as it is withdrawn from the roll and applied to the desired surface (as illustrated in Figure 2).

Normally, the snubber 24 presses the tape against the ears 23 to grip and hold (and thus snub) the outer end of the tape 26 against return and escape from'the mechanism previously described. The tape is thus held in a position such that it is always ready to be applied to a desired surface.

In order that the means may be provided for cutting the tape without marring the surface upon which the tape is applied, control mechanism is provided for the cutting means as follows. At the outer end of the pressure tongue a serrated cutting blade 27 is secured. The serrated elements of the blade are preferably bent downwardly as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, in order that the angle of approach or attack may be such as to insure the entering or piercing of the tape by the points of the cutting blade. To this end an enlarged head 28 may be formed at the outer end of the tongue, the ends of the head being provided with ears 29 having notches 30 formed therein for engaging shoulders 31 that are formed on ears 32 which are preferably formed integral with the forward lower extremities of the side plates 11. To accommodate the elements without interfering with the full width of tape which may be received between the side plates 11, the side plates are preferably formed with outwardly extending bosses 33 upon which the ears 32 are formed.

The device of this invention is preferably made by conventional molding techniques and, to facilitate the assembly of the mating portions of the device, bosses 34 and 35 are provided with interengaging pins and recesses 36 and 37, respectively. The boss 34 is provided with a downwardly extending stop 38, this stop serving to limit the movement of the trigger plate 15 by the engagement therewith of a projection 39 formed on the upper inner surface of the trigger plate.

The operation of the device will be apparent from in spection of Figures 1, 2 and 3. After a roll of adhesive tape has been mounted between the side plates with the outer end thereof snubbed as shown in Figure l, the tape Patented Nov. 1, 1955,

may be appliedto a desired surface by turning the device counter-clockwise (as illustrated inthe drawings)- until the pressure surface causes the tape to be applied to the desired surface (Figure 2). In this position the notches engage and latch over the shoulders 31 to hold the pressure tongue in such position where it will remain until it is desired to sever the tape. At this point the counter-clockwise direction and to pressidownwardly (in order that; the end. 015 the tape may; beaefiectively. adhered to thesurface upon. which; it is: being. appliccb); The, cars 32 are formed of: such size and: shape that they:will1r.e-

quire-the deviceto beturned to.-a-.pointat which down-.. ward pressure on the trigger; plate 15K Will assure thev disengagement. of: the notches; 30- from the shoulders 31. Thetlengthsof theears-32wthus not only assures that: the

pressure willbein'apropen directiomtorelease the tongue but-alsov assures that: the; devicewill have been: turned.

sufficiently. to prevent. thetongue and cutter from. en-

gaging the surface: upon: whichthe tape has been. ap-

plied; As: Willzbe seen: from Figure. 3, this; downward pressure causes. the trigger plate 15 to. engage thecars 29 to dislodge the notches Stlfrom.thezshoulders 31 and.

release the pressure tongue 25. The natural resiliency of the tongue 25lcausesit to; spring outwardly and thus.

to cause the serrated] cutting' edge to, pierce: and. cut the tape.

In. the foregoingcperation, the angle through. which the device is: turned: (approximately 34): in. accomplishing-the cutting operation is.indicatedzat A. Inasmuch as theadhesive sideofthetapeis.exposed.to the snubbingears 23 andi is resistingbeing stripped from the roll, the tape will be-maintained.relatively taut during the severing operation. Thustautnessis: further assured-by reason that, justpriortothe releaseof. the notches-Bil-from the shoulders 31, the bowing of the tongue required to etfect such release \vill'have caused the snubber 2410- move the adhesiveside of the-tapeintotengagernenti with the snubbing cars 23. It thuswill be seen that the pressure that applies. the tape to a= desired surface causes the adhesive side of. the tape to be lifted ofli of the snubbing ears 23 whereas the pressure that effects the release of the tonguejacenttongues to provide the desired element subsequently I tobe assembled into the mechanism-previously described. While the invention. has been described with specific reference tothe accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited save asdefined inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. Tape applying and cutting mechanism, comprising a holder adapted to receive a roll of tape, a pressure tongue on. theholder and having anouter pressing face toapply tape toadesired surface, means biasing said tongue outwardlywith respectv to said holder, said tongue beingmovablc inwardly into a tape applying position with its outer face adjacent to the bottom of the holder, a cutting element on. the tongue adjacent theouter end thereof, said cutting element being: offset inwardly of said outer face, meanson saidholder and tongue to hold the tongue in said tape applying position, and means on said holder-to release the holdingmeans to permit the tongue to move outwardly from its applying position to engage and cut saidtape with said cutting element.

2. Tape; applying and. cutting mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein the tongue holding means. comprises.

latch means-and thereleasing.means comprises a trigger plate for'engaging and releasing the latch means.

3: Tape applying and cutting mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein the tongue holdingmeans-comprises latch means and the releasing means comprises a resilmeans.

4. Tape applying and cutting mechanism, comprising a holder adapted to receive a roll of tape, a pressure tongue on the holder having an outer pressing face to apply tape to a desired surface, a cutting element on and adjacent to the outer end of said tongue, said outer end of said tongue being movable inwardly and outwardly with respect to said holder, a forward bridge member on the holder, a trigger plate on the bridge member, interengaging elements on the tongue and holder to hold the tongue inwardly with respect to said holder in a tape applying position and adapted to be engaged and released by the trigger plate, and means biasing said tongue outwardlywith; respect. to said bridge member to engage said cutting element with and out said tape.

5. Tape applying and cutting mechanism, comprising a holder adapted to receive a roll of tape, a resilient pressure tongue on the holder to apply tape to a desired surface, said tongue being connected at one end of said holder and having its. outer end, normally biased outwardly from said holderand. being, movableinwardly towardssaid,holder to a tape applying position, by. pres: sure thereon, a cutting element on. the tongue adjacent, the outer end,there of, means. on, said tongue and holder to hold the tongue in said tape applying position, means on, said, holder to hold the, tape taut, between the. roll and thedesiredsurface, andmeans to release the holding means: to permit. the, outer end of thetongue to move outwardly from said-tape applying position.

6. Tape applying and cutting mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein the cutting; element comprises a serrated cutting member, the cutting edge of which lies in a plane at anangle to the outer end. of the pressure tongue.

7. Tape applying and cutting mechanism, according to claim 1, whereinthe, tongueholding means comprises shoulders formed: on. opposite, side walls, of the holder,

and. notches on the sides,of the pressure tongue to engage the, shoulders.

8. Tape applying and cutting; mechanism,. according:

to claim 1, wherein thetongue holding, means comprises shoulders formed, on opposite. sidewalls of the holder,

prises a resilient trigger, plate formed. integral, with, the.

holder.

9., Tape applying and cutting; mechanism, according to claim 1, whereinthetongpe holdingmeans. comprises shoulders, formedon, opposite. side, walls of. the holder, notches on the sides of the pressure tongue to engage the shoulders, and-, wherein the releasing means. com' prises. areversely extending resilient trigger plate formed integral with the holder and having a portion adapted to engage the tape;tha t, has been applied to the desired surface 10. Tape applying and cutting mechanism, according to claim 1, wherein the tongue holding, means. comprises shoulders formed on opposite side walls, of the holder, notches on the sides, of the pressure, tongue to. engage; the shoulders, and wherein the releasing means. com; prises a reversely.extending resilientr trigger, plate formed integral with the holder and having. aportion adapted to engage the tape that has been applied to, the desired surface, upon rocking; ofthe holder in a direction to remove the pressure-plate-from the surface upon, which the, tape is applied;

11. Tape applying and cutting mechanism, comprising a. holder adapted. to receive, a roll. of tape, a resilient pressure tongue onv the holder to apply tape to. a desired surface, a cutting element on the tongue adjacent theouter end thereof, means on said tongue and: holder to hold the tongue in a tape applying position, snubbing= elements on the holderadapted to. be engaged by the adhesive side of the tape, and releasing means on the holder adjacent to the outer end of said tongue to cause the tongue to move the tape against the snubbing elements and to release the holding means to enable the tongue to move to a position remote from its applying position to engage the cutting element With the tape between said releasing means and said snubbing means and sever the tape and hold the free end thereof by the snubbing elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nelson et al. May 14, 1946 Luebkeman Nov. 2, 1948 Pangburn et a1. July 10, 1951 Taylor Jan. 29, 1952 

